UK children’s author David Walliams accused of grooming minors

What the report says

British comedian and children’s author David Walliams, 55, is facing allegations of grooming teenage fans and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, according to a joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News cited by Al Jazeera. The reporting, published in the UK, relies on accounts from multiple women who described interactions with Walliams over a period of years. Walliams has denied the allegations through his lawyers and said he did not target teenagers or use his celebrity status to pressure them into sex.

Al Jazeera reported that Walliams also sent a letter to journalists saying he had behaved thoughtlessly and rejecting the idea that he was a sexual predator. His legal team said some of the alleged conduct could amount to criminal offences if proven, while also disputing key parts of the accusations. The allegations were presented in the media with some women identified only by first names.

The article highlights claims from two women, including one who said Walliams contacted her when she was 15 and invited her to his house, and another who said she met him as a teenage comedy writer before later engaging in sexual conduct with him. Walliams is well known for “Little Britain,” several bestselling children’s books and his former role on “Britain’s Got Talent.” The BBC said it was removing some programmes and reviewing material featuring him, while publisher HarperCollins had previously dropped him after separate accusations that he denied.